AJC introduces course to local pastors

(Submitted photo )

August 10, 2010|By Sergio Carmona, Staff Writer

Since 2007, the American Jewish Committee has taught an innovative educational outreach program called "Essence of Judaism," an introductory course regarding Jewish experience for Latino Pentecostal pastors and religious leaders.

Recently, the AJC's Greater Miami and Broward Office was part of an initiative in South Florida as the organization hosted an introductory session to offer the course to local Latino religious leaders at Temple Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in North Miami Beach.

"We at AJC's Miami and Broward Office are delighted to be a part of the 'Essence of Judaism' initiative," said Brian Siegal, AJC's Greater Miami and Broward director. "This course on the fundamentals of Jewish culture, history and belief provides a unique opportunity to engage in an important exchange of ideas and sharing of traditions with our friends in the Latino Pentecostal community. In Miami, this program is particularly important as it helps to build knowledge, familiarity and appreciation for similarities and differences between vital voices of faith traditions."

Beth Torah's Rabbi Mario Rojzman taught the introductory session last month to participants who graduated and received a certificate. The course consists of five monthly sessions and culminates in a mission to Israel. The class covers Biblical history, sacred texts, modern History, spirituality, anti-Semitism and the modern State of Israel. Renowned rabbis and religious scholars present the course in Spanish in order to clarify misconceptions in an effort to create informed interreligious partners.

Rabbi Randall Brown, assistant director of Interreligious & Intergroup Relations for AJC's Los Angeles Office who created the program and helped to roll it out here in Miami, said about the course, "Through innovative programming, we have created new bridges to break down old barriers."

Brown added that the religious leaders who participated in the introductory session at Beth Torah were incredibly receptive towards Jewish culture but that their previous knowledge of it was only in the form of a biblical perspective.

"They did not have a clear understanding of Jewish community since the enlightenment," Brown added. "They were not aware of the transformation from temple worship Judaism to modern rabbinical Judaism. Secondly, they only understood either Biblical Israel or the State of Israel through a lens of military conflict, so we were able to teach them different narratives to give them a broad perspective on a complicated and nuanced conflict."